5 Steps to Create a Future Gratitude List and Own 2017 like a Boss

It’s been YONKS since I sat down and typed up a little blog post. I think it has to do with the fact that I am currently finishing off the draft to my memoir and so all my energy goes towards that, leaving little for blog posts.

There are so many blog posts and social media images popping up at the moment promising:

‘How to make your best year yet – a billion step guide’ or

‘Start planning now to become a magical wizard’ (maybe not) or

‘A fool proof way to become a unicorn in 2017’

that I find myself thinking ‘F*#*!’ on more than one occasion a day as I just want a little peace and quiet and even more than this I have found a practice that works for me and I know it will work for you too.

This way involves creating a Future Gratitude List.

What this means is taking myself all the way to December 31st 2017 and imagining all the beautiful things I will have seen, heard, and done this year. It involves picturing where I will be on that day, who will I be with? What will I see? What will I feel? What am I telling myself? And then noticing all the things I am grateful for that have entered my life effortlessly over the year.

The Future Gratitude List is a practice I have done for the last several years and I’ll tell you what, if you want to know how to manifest then this is at the heart of it all.

It’s about knowing exactly how you want something to be, right down to specifics. I have done away with the word ‘goals’ as it feels pukey to me and I suspect, like me, you are somewhat OCD and so constantly having to tick off goals becomes obsessive and draining and before you know it you have put life itself as a goal just so you can tick something off your list!

Instead of a goals, think of it as a vision board in words.

Once you have looked into it, felt it, seen it, touched it, and been it you will unconsciously move toward it.

If you are able to keep this vision in the back of your mind and always come back to it – especially when your inner critic chimes in with ‘But it’s too haaaaaard!’ You just utter a little ‘No way Jose!’ And keep putting in that action. It’s not about willing, controlling or manipulating things to go your way. It’s about putting in action and allowing the outcomes to guide you. Sometimes your action might be to take no action at all and simply allow the process to unfold.

MY FUTURE GRATITUDE LIST

1. This year I spent several months with my partner living and working in the United States

2. I continued to have a consistent flow of high end passionate clients

4. I nurtured my relationship to the fullest capacity

5. I wrote, meditated and exercised daily

6. I finished my memoir and sent it off to a publisher

8. I was granted a scholarship to attend a writer’s retreat as part of my PhD

9. I wrote the overview of an Arts in Corrections course that will run in 2018

10. I received a minimum of $100,000 over the course of 12 months by continuing to focus on abundance, prosperity, wealth consciousness and generosity and practicing my daily rituals.

Now it’s your turn.

5 Steps to create a Future Gratitude List and own 2017 like a boss

1. Brainstorm all the things you could potentially do this year

This doesn’t have to be things you will definitely do, it’s all the little dreams you have or your desires that you keep tucked away in the back of your mind. Every time your inner critic comes in and tells you it won’t happen, say ‘Thank you’ and keep writing.

2. From this list, write down 5-10 things you would love, love love to do as follows:

Action

Intention

Date (by when)

Travel to San Fran

Create contacts, work, and travel

July 2017

1.

1.

1.

2.

2.

2.

3.

3.

3.

4.

4.

4.

5.

5.

5.

These don’t necessarily have to be things you achieve on a material level, they can also be to do with relationships, emotions, spirituality and simply being. Whatever is important to you.

3. Write a gratitude letter to the Universe, to God, to your Higher Self or whoever you resonate with

Now it’s time for you to get intimate and specific with your year. Take yourself to the last day of the year and write a thank you letter to something or someone you resonate with. Thank them for all that has come into your life this year (as if it has already happened). Thank them for each moment, the ease with which it happened and for the pain, love, and laughter you have experienced (if this is part of your vision of course). If there are certain things you want to achieve them put them in the letter. It’s about being grateful for what you have, while at the same time being grateful for all that is yet to come. Enjoy the process.

4. Take yourself to December 31st 2017 and create a vision

This is my absolute favourite part. Here is where you close your eyes for a couple of minutes and picture yourself on the last day of the year. Where are you? Who are you with? What can you see? What can you hear? What are the smells and tastes you notice? What are some of the thoughts going through your mind?

Once you have sat quietly, write down everything that comes to mind in the present moment, as if you are there and it is happening in this moment. For example:

‘It is December 31st 2017 and I am standing in San Francisco with my partner. There are people everywhere and there is a growing anticipation among those around us in the lead up to the fireworks display over the water. Etc’

5. Keep your Future Gratitude List at the forefront of your mind

This is something I practice monthly (with a monthly vision) so feel free to use the exercise and adapt it as you wish.

Please have fun with this and write your top action from your Future Gratitude List in the comments.

With love,

Tess x

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